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Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck

You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller

Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss

"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."

"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein

The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step

Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale

Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather

The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.

Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance

"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Monday, December 10, 2012

The Jesse Tree

It is that time of year again. Our second annual year with our Advent Jesse Tree.

Last year (in Jan. 2011) I bought this book:

And I spent all year looking for the ornaments that went along with each day in the book. It was really fun to be on that kind of hunt.

We put them up one every day in the month of December. Last year Arlington was the only one who participated, but this year the littles wanted in on the action. So each day they take a turn. We read the little story that goes along with the ornament/bible lesson (they have a kids version and adult version in the book) and then hang the ornament.

So I will share the first 10 days that we have done so far. then in another 10 days, I will share again.

Enjoy!

Day 1 - The Light in Creation. Ornament: The World.
" In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Day Two: The First Sin. Symbol: Apple
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way." Isaiah 53.6

Day 3: Inside the Ark. Symbol: an ark with a Rainbow.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

Day 4: The Call to Abram. Symbol: A camel/three wise men
"In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:3b

Day 5: Isaac and the Lamb. Symbol: Lamb

"Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" John 1"29b

Day 6: Jacob's Ladder. Symbol: a ladder
"Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places, whither tou goest." Genesis 28:15a

Day 7: Joseph's Coat of many colors. Symbol: colorful coat:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28a

Day 8: Moses and the Ten commandments. Symbol: A tablet with numbers

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" Psalm 119:11

Day 9: Canaan, the Promised Land of Blessings. Symbol: Grapes

"Bless the Lord, O my sould, and forget not all his benefits" Psalm 103:2

Day 10: Ruth and Boaz. Symbol: wheat
"They people shall be my people, and they God my God" Ruth 1:16b

2 comments:

That's an awsome way to tell that story from the Bible. It is so very true. LOL!

I pray that your family has a very blessed an safe christmas too.

We are having poweroutaged up in Alaska from all the heavy snow fall, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to log on to your blog. I hope to visit you all soon, untl then God bless and have a happy HEART! '' God loves a cheerful giver.''

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We are a family of 5 living in Massachusetts. Mat and I have been married for 16 years, and we have three children. Arlington is 11 years old, and Finley and Cainan are 8 years old. We adopted Cainan from China when he was 14 months old. He was born with cleft lip and palate level three. This blog started out as our journey to bring him into our family and has turned into our family blog. He and Finley are only 30 days apart!! We love being a blended family, and enjoy sharing about our trials and tribulations through becoming one! Also, our daughter Finley was diagnosed in 2009 with Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) a rare genetic eye condition that has made her legally blind. Come and read about our proud family!If you want to read Cainan's story, click here:The Pletcher Five Journey Blessings Times Three: Cainan's Story